Steam engine



July 16, 1929.

F. D. LEVERING STEAM ENGINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 1. 1927 Patented July 16, 1929. Q 7 7' UITED FLOYD D. LEVERING, OF DETROIT/MICHIGAN.

STEAM ENGINE.

Application filed April 1,

This invention relates to steam engines and particularly to rotary steam engines.

An object of the invention is to provide a steam engine of the rotating cylinder type in which a stator surrounds the rotor and provision is made for introducing condensed steam into a reduced annular clearance space between the rotor and stator to establish a seal against steam leakage.

Another object is to provide a steam engine comprising a rotor, carrying radial cylinders and formed with steam chambers between said cylinders, said rotor being surrounded by a stator throughwhich steam is delivered to and exhausted from said cylinders and provision being made for introducing the steam from said condensing chambers into themnular space between the rotor and stator for sealing purposes.

A further object is to provide a cylinderforming steam engine rotor having a peripheral annular groove receiving a ring through which steam is adapted to be admitted to and exhausted from the cylinders.

A still further object is to provide a stator ring surrounding a cylinder-forming steam engine rotor, said ring being formed with passages for delivery of steam to and its exhaust from said cylinders, and to provide for a circumferential adjustment of said ring for the purpose of quickly and accurately setting the leads of the steam supply and exhaust.

These and various other objects the invention attains by the construction hereinafter described and illustrated in the accompanying. drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of the herein described engine.

Figure 2 is acircumferential sectional View of said engine. v

Figure 3 is a cross sectional view of the engine taken upon the line 3 3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a detail sectional view taken upon the line 4-4 of Figure 2 and disclosing primarily thecontrol means for the flow of steam into one of the steam chambers which are formed between the cylinders of the rotor.

In these views the. reference character 1 designates a base from which integrally rises a pair of spaced standards 2 formed at their upper ends with bearings 3. Between said standards is mounted a rotor comprising a plurality of integrally formed radial steam cylinders 4, to the inner ends of which is secured a pair of circular mounting plates 5- and 6, one at each side of the rotor. The plate 192?. Serial No. 180,129.

5 carries integrally (or in some other rigid manner) a shaft 7 jou'rnaled in one of the bearlngs 3, serving to drive any suitable mechanism from the engine. The plate 6 is formed with an open central bearing 8 j ournalmg the rotor upon a crank sha'ft 9 rigidly mounted at one end (as by a key 9*.) in the other bearing 3' and having its other end journaled in a bearing 10 formed in the inner face of the plate 5.

The crank 11 of the crank-shaft '9 is freely engaged by-a crank disc 12 to" which are connected connecting rods 13 extending from pistons 14 respectively working in the cylinders 4. Preferably one of the rods 13 is integrally (or otherwise rigidly) connected to the disc 12 and the other rods 13 are pivoted upon sald disc, in sultable equi-distant relation as indicated at 15. i

The spaces between the cylinders 4' are closed at one side of the rotor by a web 16,

plates 19 bolted to their seats as indicated at i 20. Preferably said cover plates arelocated in the bottom of an annular groove or channel 21 which is duplicated in the web 16, said grooves receiving a layer of asbestos or other heat insulating packing 22 held in place by a pair of sheet metal rings 23 fastened tothe rotor byscrews 24 or the like. The cylinders 4 are headed as indicated at 24, each of these heads being preferably dovetailed into a suitable undercut groove 24", extending across the outer face of the cylinder casting. Each head 24 is formed with a substantially central port 24 serving both for the intake and ex haust of steam. Upon the described cylinder structure of the rotor is pressed a rim formed r by a pair of rings 25, preferably formed of steel, similarly spaced from the central plane of rotation of the rotor as indicated at 26. the opposing faces of said rings being formed with a series of small annular channels 27 I extending preferably completely around said rings. Within the space 26 is disposed an annular stator member 28 having a steam supply connection to its upper portion at 29 and a steam exhaust conduit leading from its able to establish proper periods of communication when the engine is in operation, between each cylinder and the source of live steam and the exhaust steamduct. Thus the live steam delivery channel 31 has a circumferential extent of substantially sixty five degrees, whereas the exhaust channel extends circumferentially for substantially one hundred and twenty degrees. The channels 31 and 32 are so disposed with vrespect to the crank of the stationary shaft 9 that the admission of steam to each cylinder will con mence undernormal running conditions, approximately as the cylinder travels past one of its two dead centre positions, thatis to say, in a position of approximate alinement of its connecting rodwith'said crank. The circumferential extent of the intake passage is adequate to maintain a flow of steam to each cylinder until the piston thereof has traveled a suflicient portion of its power stroke to insure actuation of said piston for the remaining portion of said stroke by the expansion of accumulated steam behind said piston.

The exhausting of steam to the other channel 32 from each cylinder commences approximately as the cylinder passes its other dead centre position andcontinues through out a greater range of circumferential travel than does the steam inflow, since it is necessary to continue exhausting during practically the entire outward stroke of each pisto leak from theends of the live steam channel 31 toward the exhaust channel 32 it is preferred to set sealing blocks 33 into the inner faces. of the stator ring 28, one at each end of the groove 31, said blocks bearing upon the peripheral face of the rotor. Preferablythe blocks 33 extend slightly into the groove 31 so as to subject one end portion of each block to a pressure of steam tending to maintain its sealing engagement with the rotor. To increase the sealing efiiciency of said blocks 1t is preferred to form their rotorengaging faces with a series of transverse channels 34: in which condensed steam will accumulate to establish a seal as more fully hereina'fter' explained. '35 designates screws extended into the stator ring 28 from the outer face thereof and engaging said blocks 33 to maintain the latter properly positioned.

Between each pair of adjacent cylinders 4 there is formed a-steam'and heat equalizing chamber 36 to which access may be had through the opening 18 upon removal of the corresponding cover plate 19. The outer wall of each chamber 36 is formed with a restricted radial port 37 controlled by an outwardly seating ball check valve 38 urged to its seat by a coiled spring 39, said valve and spring being carried by'suitable cage 40. As the rotor turns,the ports 37 will successively register with the live steam channel 31 and during the intervals of such registration pressure in said channel will unseat the valves 38, admitting limited charges of live steam successively into the chambers 36. Thus while condensation of steam will be continuously taking place in the chambers 36,-the volume of steam in said chambers will be regularly replenished. The condensate is delivered centrifugally to the inner portion of the annular space 26 through suitable passages 41, one of which leads out from each chamber 36,'adjaeent to its rear radial wall. The rotational travel. of the rotor acts to collect the condensate adjacent to the rear walls of the chambers where it may be centrifugally carried out through said passages ll. The maintenance of a steam pressure in the spaces between the cylinders is further desirable in effecting a substantial equalization of the temperatures"prevailing at the inner and outer ends of the cylinders so as to eliminate any such tendency ofthe rotor to warp as might arise fronr unequal heating of its different portions. 7

To provide for setting the lead under which steam is admitted to and exhausted from the cylinders it is preferred to provide for limited adjustment rotationally of the stator ring 28. Thus there is pivoted to the lower end portion of said ring one end of a screwthreaded rod 4-2 which has its other end porlock-nuts 14, one at each side of said sleeve ton. To counteract the tendency of the steam and adapted to be clamped upon said sleeve to hold the ring 28 properly set.

It is an important advantage of the described means for regulating the lead, that this regulation may be effected While the engine is in operation, so that the position of the stator ring securing the maximum efficiency of engine operation may be readily determined. 1

What I claim is 1. A steam engine comprising a cylinderforming rotor, pistons reciprocatory in the cylinders of said rotor, a stationary anchorage member for inner ends of said pistons, eccentric to the rotor axis, a stat-or ring surrounding the rotor and having sealing engagement therewith, means for admitting steam to the rotor cylinders and exhausting it from said cylinders through said ring, and means for rotationally adjusting said ring to set the lead of steam admission and exhaust. I

2. A steam engine comprising acylinderting steam to and exhausting it from the cylin'ders of the rotor through said stator ring.

3. A steam engine, comprising a rotor, formed with aplurality of radial cylinders and with steam chambers between said cylinders, a stator ring surrounding said rotor, means for delivering steam to said cylinders and exhausting it therefrom through said stator ring, and means for delivering a limited steam supply to said steam chambers, said chambers having outlets to said sealing space.

4. A steam engine comprising a rotor formed with a plurality of radial cylinders and forming steam chambers between said cylinders, a stator ring surrounding said rotor and forming therewith a. restricted rotor being formed with a peripheral annular channel, a stator ring mounted in said channel and grooved in its inner face for the delivery of steam to and the exhausting of steam from said cylinders, and steam supply and exhaust connections through said stator ring to said grooves in the inner face of said ring.

6. A steam engine comprising a rotor formed with a plurality of radial cylinders having heads at their outer ends, said rotor having a peripheral annular channel, a stator ring mounted in said channel and forming with the wall of said channel a restricted sealing space, a condensing chamber carried by the rotor, means for admitting steam to and exhausting it from the cylinders of the rotor through said stator ring, means for admitting steam to the condensing chamber, said formed with steam chambers between said cylinders and formed with a peripheral annular channel having an outlet thereto from said steam chamber, a stator ring mounted in said annular channel, means for delivering steam to and exhausting it from the rotor cylinders through said stator ring, and means for admitting a limited charge of steam to said steam chamber upon each revolution of the rotor.

8. A steam engine, comprising a rotor formed with a plurality of radial cylinders and with steam chambers between the cylinders, and further formed with an annular peripheral groove having outlets thereto from said steam chambers, a stator ring mounted in said annular channel and forming with the rotor a restricted annular sealing space, one wall ofwhich is annularly grooved, means for delivering steam to and exhaustingit from the cylinders of the rotor through said stator ring, and means for 'delivering a periodic restricted steam supply to said steam chambers.

9. A steam engine comprising a rotor, forming cylinders having openings in their outer ends for the inflow and exhaust of steam, pistons reciprocatory in said cylinders, a stationary anchorage member for said piston eccentric to the rotor axis, and a stator ing surrounding the rotor in sealing engagement therewith, having steam admis FLOYD D. LEVER-ING. 

